Huskers anxious to show off improved team

Nebraska takes on Southern Mississippi on Saturday

UPDATED 12:00 PM CDT Aug 28, 2012

LINCOLN, Neb. -

The journey for the 2012 Nebraska Cornhuskers officially begins on Saturday when they host the Golden Eagles of Southern Mississippi at Memorial Stadium. It will be the first chance to see the new and improved Taylor Martinez.

"I believe he's very confident," said coach Bo Pelini at Monday's news conference. "I think he's excited for the year and I think he's taken a little bit of an attitude that he has something to prove."

"I am very excited," Martinez said. "I think our whole offense is excited to show how far we have come and hopefully what we have been doing in fall camp can translate into this first game."

Martinez worked diligently in the off season to improve his throwing mechanics, but the junior quarterback admits he doesn't know what will happen after Saturday's kickoff.

"We'll see what happens in this first game. Maybe I will go back to my old ways. Maybe I won't. It's a game situation, so whatever comes out in me, comes out, so we'll see how I do," Martinez said.

Nebraska is expected to be a good team this year, but not necessarily great, according to the experts. Flying under the radar could be a positive thing for the Huskers.

"We've been waiting to show what we can do and how we have changed and show how much we have improved and how we love to play for one another. We can't wait to finally get to show that on Saturday," said senior tight end Ben Cotton.

"I know they are going to play hard and they are looking forward to play physical and apply their roles and execute what they are trying to get done in every phase of the game," said Pelini.